Pursuing Authenticity: Tourists’ and Residents’ Perceptions of the Impact of Overtourism in Venice

The consequences of overtourism are becoming an increasingly relevant issue in the European public debate. The growing accessibility of tourist destinations, facilitated by lowcost travel options, prompts a shift in the dominant paradigm—from destinations as mere commodities to destinations as communities of residents who host tourists. This research responds to this call, designing a theoretical model to examine the impact of overtourism in Venice, considering both tourists’ and residents’ perspectives. Specifically, the study assesses how the city’s level of adaptation to tourists influences the authenticity of experiences and how these relate to satisfaction, as well as the likelihood of revisiting or recommending the destination. Based on recent literature, the proposed model presents an innovative approach to identifying differences and similarities between residents and tourists, offering promising insights for future researchers and policymakers.